The Philadelphia Department of Public Health has taken a significant step forward in its efforts to support individuals living with HIV and to prevent new infections. According to details released on their sexual health website, PhillyKeepOnLoving (PKOL), a new resource finder is now available to help users easily locate HIV treatment and prevention services.
This online tool, which is both user-friendly and available in English and Spanish, operates around the clock, offering a critical lifeline for those seeking assistance. "The Health Department funds and coordinates HIV prevention, care, and support throughout Philadelphia," Dr. Kathleen Brady, Director of the Division of HIV Health, PDPH, told the Health Department's news release. "One crucial step on our path to ending the HIV epidemic is making resources available and easy to find. Our new PKOL HIV Resource Finder gives residents and service providers the tools they need to protect themselves and their communities."
Philadelphia residents like Keith Carter have welcomed the tool's convenience, underscoring its impact on personal health management. "The PKOL HIV Resource Finder allows me to take my health into my own hands," Carter explained in a statement obtained by the Health Department. "If I need support, I can search for it on my own using the tool from my phone. I can find legal services or a food bank in just a couple of clicks."
Professionals in the medical field have also highlighted the resource finder's potential to transform the delivery of care. "Working with Philadelphians impacted by HIV, every moment counts. The ability to quickly pinpoint a pertinent resource can be the deciding factor in whether or not a life-changing intervention is implemented," Mike Nees, Medical Case Manager at Penn Community Practice, described according to a Health Department interview. "The PKOL HIV Resource Finder helps clear the fog that too often surrounds the service landscape."
The comprehensive nature of this initiative is evident as it caters to a broad spectrum of needs, offering a wealth of resources for both individuals who live with HIV and those seeking preventative measures. Regardless of one's immigration status or ability to pay, HIV care and support are accessible, complete with services such as food and housing assistance. Additionally, prevention tools like PrEP and PEP are readily available, with the former preventing potential HIV exposure and the latter acting as an emergency response to recent possible exposure. All of these resources, plus testing and helpline information, can be accessed through the Health Department's website, via Philly Keep on Loving.
